Staybridge Suites/Missoula Independent Community Corner Returns

The Missoula Osprey announced today that the Staybridge Suites/Missoula Independent Community Corner that recognizes the impact of local non-profits in Western Montana will return for the 2017 season.

For every regular season home game, Staybridge Suites, the Missoula Independent and the Osprey team-up to donate 20 tickets to qualified non-profit organizations.

The tickets can be used by volunteers, sponsors, staff, or those that benefit from the organization’s efforts.

The Missoula Osprey announced today that the Staybridge Suites/Missoula Independent Community Corner that recognizes the impact of local non-profits in Western Montana will return for the 2017 season.

For every regular season home game, Staybridge Suites, the Missoula Independent and the Osprey team-up to donate 20 tickets to qualified non-profit organizations.

The tickets can be used by volunteers, sponsors, staff, or those that benefit from the organization’s efforts. Due to the popularity of the program, Community Corner tickets are only available on a first come, first served basis. “The Community Corner is one of the many programs we offer to non-profit organizations,” said Osprey Vice President/General Manager Jeff Griffin. “With the help of our corporate partners, we are able to recognize the work of local non-profits in our community. These efforts are one of the many things that make Missoula such a special place.”

To reserve a Community Corner spot, non-profit organizations must make a request in writing on the organization’s letterhead. Requests may be mailed to 140 N. Higgins, or e-mailed to jgriffin@missoulaosprey.com.

The 2017 Osprey home opener is slated for Friday, June 23 against the Great Falls Voyagers.

Ticket packages are available for purchase by contacting an Osprey ticket representative at 543-3300, at the MSO Hub, or on the web at MissoulaOsprey.com.

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

PawSox Foundation to Present “A Veterans Home Run: 5k Walk ‘N Run” on May 20

The Pawtucket Red Sox and the PawSox/Skeffington Charitable Foundation today announced exciting changes to their annual 5K Walk ‘N Run, which this year will take place on Saturday, May 20th at 9:30 am with the route both starting and finishing at McCoy Stadium. An earlier time of year (the race was held Labor Day weekend the past five years), a revamped course which will now take runners by downtown Pawtucket, and an enhanced partnership with area veterans are among the new highlights for this popular event.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

The revitalized PawSox Foundation, now in its 18th year, has worked closely with both Operation Stand Down RI and 21 Heroes among other veterans organizations. Proceeds from the race will benefit the Foundation’s veterans initiatives. Operation Stand Down serves the Ocean State’s 67,800 veterans and their families while 21 Heroes was established to honor the 21 soldiers from Pawtucket who lost their lives in the Vietnam War. A 21 Heroes memorial dedication will take place the day after the 5K on Sunday, May 21 at Slater Park capping off an historic weekend for veterans causes in Pawtucket.

“We are so pleased to work with the wonderful people from Operation Stand Down and with Terry Nau of 21 Heroes to honor and give something back to the many amazing Rhode Island veterans and their families,” said PawSox Senior Vice President/Club Counsel Kim Miner, who also runs the PawSox Foundation. “In our ongoing effort to build on the PawSox legacy of celebrating our veterans, we were especially pleased to introduce a nightly ‘In Debt to a Vet’ salute during each game at McCoy Stadium last year and that tradition will continue this season.”

One of the premier road races in the area, the PawSox Foundation 5K will start from the McCoy Stadium parking lot, weave through the streets of downtown Pawtucket, and eventually finish at home plate on the McCoy playing field. This new and improved route will help showcase the beautiful riverfront and other reinvigorated areas of the Pawtucket downtown.

“Our veterans and those currently serving in the armed services give so much to us to ensure that our freedom and the American Dream endure,” said Pawtucket Mayor Donald Grebien. “Partnering to promote causes to support our veterans is the least that we can do. Thank you to the PawSox Foundation for working with our local organizations and investing in our community. And thank you to Operation Stand Down and Heroes 21 for ensuring that our veterans are never left behind.”

The race is sponsored by National Grid, Planet Fitness, W.B. Mason, and Coast 93.3. The first 500 participants who register on pawsox.com will receive a free race t-shirt. Pre-registration is $25 per person, and teams of 10 or more will be just $20 per person. On the day of the race, registration will open at 7:30 am and the cost will be $30.

Cash prizes will be awarded to the winners. Festivities will continue after the race with food and entertainment in the PawSox Party Tent area at McCoy. All participants will also receive tickets to the PawSox game on May 23 vs. Louisville at 6:05 pm, and will be invited to take part in a pre-game on-field parade and award ceremony that evening.

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

ANNUAL FREE YOUTH BASEBALL CLINIC SET FOR SATURDAY, MAY 13

SPRINGDALE, Ark. – The Northwest Arkansas Naturals will partner with Great Day Farms once again on the tenth annual FREE Youth Baseball Clinic that will take place at Arvest Ballpark from 2 p.m. until 3:45 p.m. on Saturday, May 13 in advance of that night’s 6:05 p.m. game against the Tulsa Drillers, the Double-A Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Youth Baseball Clinic is open to children ages 6-12 and will cover instruction of key baseball fundamentals, including hitting, fielding, pitching, and base running. All kids that register will receive a complimentary 1B/3B Reserved ticket to that night’s game that features a Salvador Perez ‘Gold Glove’ Bobblehead Giveaway for the first 2000 fans in attendance courtesy of CCF Brands. Perez, an illustrious 2011 alum, is a four-time Gold Glove winner, the 2016 Silver Slugger winner for catcher in the American League, and was the 2015 World Series MVP. In addition, all clinic participants that attend the game that night will be recognized on the field prior to first pitch.

Instruction during the clinic will be given by select members of the Naturals’ team and coaching staff. Following the instruction portion of the clinic, an autograph session will occur on the concourse on the 1st base side for approximately 15 minutes before the ballpark is cleared in preparation for that night’s game against Tulsa.

There is a registration form titled YOUTH BASEBALL CLINIC REGISTRATION FORM located on the Naturals website, nwanaturals.com, under the TICKETS & PROMOTIONS tab that interested parents can fill out to register their son or daughter for the clinic. The FREE Youth Baseball Clinic is also open to local youth coaches as they may also fill out the form for their respective players. The deadline to register for the event is Friday, May 5 but participants are encouraged to sign up quickly, as previous events have filled to capacity prior to the deadline. Check-in begins at Arvest Ballpark at 1:30pm on the day of the event so we ask that you arrive early as participation is limited to the first 500 children. Participants are asked to only bring their glove and wear proper baseball attire.

Following the FREE Youth Baseball Clinic, Arvest Ballpark will be cleared and then the gates will re-open at 4:35 p.m. for the Naturals game against the Tulsa Drillers that is scheduled to begin at 6:05 p.m. If you have any questions regarding the clinic or game, please call (479) 927-4900 or email streetteam@nwanaturals.com.

In The Northwest Arkansas Naturals will host the San Antonio Missions, the Double-A Affiliate of the San Diego Padres, on Thursday, April 6 at 6:25 p.m. for Opening Day of Season 10 of Naturals Baseball at Arvest Ballpark.

The Northwest Arkansas Naturals are the Double-A Texas League Affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. The Naturals play at state-of-the-art Arvest Ballpark in Springdale, Ark. For more information, including statistics, ticket options, and more, please visit NWANaturals.com, and follow us on Twitter @NWANaturals and Facebook.com/Naturals.

-Naturals-

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

Drive and Blood Connection Team Up on Thursday

The Greenville Drive and The Blood Connection are teaming up to host a blood drive at Fluor Field on Thursday, March 30th between 11:00 AM and 7:00 PM. The Blood Connection buses will be set up at the Main Street gate.

Those who donate will receive complimentary rewards, including a Drive/Blood Connection t-shirt, a pair of vouchers good for any Sunday-Thursday Drive home game in 2017, and a hot dog plate with chips and a drink.

Every time you donate blood, you could save up to three lives, so come on out to Fluor Field on March 30th to support The Blood Connection.

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

Outstanding Students Program returns in 2017

(Reading, Pa) – The Reading Fightin Phils have announced schools can register for the Capital BlueCross “Live Fearless” Outstanding Students Program this season. There is absolutely no cost to the school to participate, and in fact the school receives money through the program.

The Capital BlueCross “Live Fearless” Outstanding Student Program is a unique incentive-based program designed to recognize and reward hard-working students. Each school decides their own method of distributing the tickets to their “Outstanding Students”. Through the program, the students are given an opportunity to celebrate their achievements with their families at a designated Fightin Phils home game. Each student recognized by their school as an “Outstanding Student” receives two FREE tickets to a Fightins game, receives an Outstanding Student Medal from a Fightins player, and gets to high-five the Crazy Hot Dog Vendor and has their photo taken with him during a special pre-game Outstanding Student Ceremony.

For each free ticket that is used, and for any additional tickets that are purchased through the Capital BlueCross “Live Fearless” Outstanding Student Program, the participating school receives $1 back.

In 2016, as part of the Capital BlueCross “Live Fearless” Outstanding Student program, the Reading Fightin Phils donated $3,073 back to participating schools in the club’s surrounding community. The Fightins hope to donate even more money to schools during the 2017 program. The more schools that sign up for the Outstanding Student program, the more money that the Fightins can donate to those schools. With the funds received, schools will be able to support students’ needs and contribute to the educational process.

The Capital BlueCross “Live Fearless” Outstanding Student Program is extremely easy to sign up for, and again, it is FREE for the schools. The person that signs up can be a school teacher, administrator, or PTO/PTA representative. Schools can sign up now for the 2017 season by contacting the Fightin Phils Director of Educational Programs, Music, & Game Presentation Todd Hunsicker at 610-375-8469 x.206 or by e-mail at thunsicker@fightins.com. Dates are available in May. The program is easy to implement, and your school receives a check from the Fightin Phils.

America’s Classic Ballpark is proud to be a part of Pennsylvania’s Americana Region. Season tickets for the 2017 season are available online at Fightins.com, by phone at 610-370-BALL, and in-person at FirstEnergy Stadium. Follow the Fightin Phils on Twitter at @ReadingFightins and like them on Facebook via www.facebook.com/fightins.

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

Whitecaps Community Foundation to Donate 1,900 Books to Area Schools to Encourage Reading

COMSTOCK PARK, MI – The Whitecaps Community Foundation will donate 1,900 books to five Grand Rapids Public Schools this week in an effort to encourage children to read during March is Reading Month and beyond.

The books were selected by GRPS educators and will be delivered as a surprise to Brookside Elementary, Mulick Park Elementary, Ken-O-Sha Park Elementary, Cesar Chavez Elementary and Burton Elementary on Wednesday, March 22 and Thursday, March 23. These five schools were selected to receive the free books because of their designation as high priority elementary schools in the GRPS system; many of their pupils do not have access to resources such as books. With this donation, every child at these five schools will receive one free book.

This is the second year of the book donation. Last year, the Whitecaps Community Foundation donated a book to every child at Dickinson Elementary School in Grand Rapids (300 in total).

The book donation is a part of the Whitecaps Community Foundation’s Reading Program, which helps area school children enjoy Whitecaps baseball while promoting reading. Children from area West Michigan schools who read a 15 minutes a day, during the month, can attend a Whitecaps game for free in April through June. The Foundation delivers all support materials, such as reading tracking calendars and posters, to all participating schools at no cost. Last year’s Reading Program had more than 70,000 K-6 area children participate from 268 schools. Nearly 20,000 complimentary tickets were given this season to children and their families in West Michigan.

The Whitecaps Community Foundation, the nonprofit extension of the West Michigan Whitecaps, is a 501c3 organization dedicated to enriching the lives of children and their families by providing them with access to social, educational and recreational programs that will have a positive impact on their futures. With the help and generosity of community partners and members, the Whitecaps Community Foundation continues to strive to make the West Michigan area a better place to grow, learn, and thrive.

In 2016, through a combination of donations and fundraising efforts, the Whitecaps Community Foundation gave more than $555,000 to local children and their families through programs such as the reading program’s book donation and many others.

For more information on the book deliveries please contact Mickey Graham at (616) 726-7067 and for information on the Whitecaps Community Foundation, including how to volunteer and/or donate, please visit www.whitecapscommunityfoundation.org.

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

Garrard student wins Hit the Books design contest

Aubree McIntosh accepts the framed poster of her winning bookmark design from the Lexington Legends’ Big L. (Lexington Legends)

  (WHITAKER BANK BALLPARK, Lexington, Ky.) Aubree McIntosh, a seventh-grade student at Garrard Middle School, was the winner of a bookmark design contest that is part of the Lexington Legends Hit the Books reading incentive program sponsored by Waffle House.

Aubree received a Legends prize pack, including Legends merchandise and a framed Hit the Books poster featuring her artwork. She also will be invited to throw a ceremonial first pitch at a 2017 Legends game. Bookmarks featuring her artwork will be distributed to students at every school that participates in the Hit the Books program. More than 48,000 students from 119 central Kentucky schools are expected to take part in the program, which runs through April 1.

                Runners-up in the bookmark design contest were Des Hanley, a fifth-grade student at Stonewall Elementary School in Lexington;  Wesley Sizemore, a third-grade student at Hazel Green Elementary in East Bernstadt; and Paisley Gay, a fifth-grade student at Stanford Elementary School.

  “Hit the Books has been an important part of the Legends’ education and community outreach programs since 2001,” said Sarah Bosso, Legends Vice President of Business Development. “The bookmark contest adds an element of fun and competition, and it’s really great to see the students do even more reading as a result of the Hit the Books program with the ticket incentive.”

            In Hit the Books, a baseball diamond is used to record credit for reading. For every book a student reads, a teacher places his or her initials on a base. When the student has all three bases and home plate initialed by the teacher, the student may bring a Hit the Books bookmark to the Legends’ box office at Whitaker Bank Ballpark to exchange it for two tickets to a Legends home game during the 2017 season.

  The 2017 season is the 17th for Legends baseball, and also marks the 17th year that the Legends have been associated with Hit the Books. About 285,000 students have participated.

  The Legends, a class A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals, open the home season Thursday, April 13 at Whitaker Bank Ballpark against the West Virginia Power, an affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. For more information, visit www.lexingtonlegends.com.

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This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

WALMART, NATURALS JOIN FORCES ON MILITARY APPRECIATION SUNDAYS

SPRINGDALE, Ark. – The Northwest Arkansas Naturals are extremely proud to join forces with Walmart on our Military Appreciation Sundays. Military Appreciation Sundays presented by Walmart were created to honor the men and women that serve or have served in the United States Military by giving them special recognition in advance of every Sunday home game.

Military Appreciation Sundays presented by Walmart will take place at all 11 Sunday home games this year. The nominated men and women that are selected for the program will be recognized and honored with an on-field or videoboard recognition during a special pre-game ceremony, four (4) complimentary Super Premium tickets, and a special certificate of recognition.

Whether it’s to honor a friend, relative, or to reunite a recently returned home veteran with their family, we ask that interested fans visit our website www.nwanaturals.com and fill out one (1) of the forms located under the Community tab titled Walmart Military Appreciation Nomination Form or the Printable Walmart Military Appreciation Form. If you’ve selected the printable form we’d ask that you fill it out and email or fax it to the Naturals at the contact information listed on the nomination form. You may also drop it off at our Administrative Office located at Arvest Ballpark between 9am-5pm, Monday-Friday.

On Memorial Day 2013, Walmart introduced the Veterans Welcome Home Commitment which guaranteed a job offer to any eligible, honorably discharged U.S. veteran who was within 12 months of active duty. The initial goal was to hire 100,000 veterans by the end of 2018. In May 2015, Walmart announced the expansion of this projection with a new goal of hiring 250,000 veterans by the end of 2020. The company also changed the eligibility from within 12 months of active duty to any veteran honorably discharged since we announced the original commitment. Since Memorial Day 2013, Walmart has offered jobs to more than 150,000 veterans through the Veteran Welcome Home Commitment and more than 19,000 have been promoted to roles of higher pay and greater responsibility. To explore career options with the company visit walmartcareerswithamission.com.

In addition to Military Appreciation Sundays, the Naturals will continue to offer a Military discount at every home game. A Military ID, when shown at the Arvest Ballpark Box Office, is valid for a $1 discount off the regular ticket price to home games.

The Northwest Arkansas Naturals will host the San Antonio Missions, the Double-A Affiliate of the San Diego Padres, on Thursday, April 6 at 6:25 p.m. for Opening Day of Season 10 of Naturals Baseball at Arvest Ballpark.

The Northwest Arkansas Naturals are the Double-A Texas League Affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. The Naturals play at state-of-the-art Arvest Ballpark in Springdale, Ark. For more information, including statistics, ticket options, and more, please visit NWANaturals.com, and follow us on Twitter @NWANaturals and Facebook.com/Naturals.

-Naturals-

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

Crawdads & Barkley Baseball Camps

Hickory, NC- The Hickory Crawdads and Barkley Baseball School are partnering once again to provide fans with both a free, one-day clinic and a four-day, paid camp this season at L.P. Frans Stadium.

The Free Clinic is scheduled for Saturday, April 29th from 2:50 pm -5:00 pm. Kids ages 5-14 will receive training from both the Barkley Baseball School instructors and Crawdads players, while also taking home a free ticket to that night’s ‘Dads game.

The four-day, paid Baseball Camp will run from Tuesday, July 18th through Friday, July 21st. Attendees will receive in-depth instruction from Barkley teachers and Crawdads players every day from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm, while also getting a baseball camp t-shirt, a free meal each day, a ticket to every ‘Dads game during the camp, and a pre-game parade around the field on July 21st.

Registration for the Baseball Camp is only $80 for all Claw Club members and $99 for non-members until June 30th. The fee rises to $115 from July 1st – July 17th, and is $130 if paid the day of the camp. Registration forms for both the Free Clinic and 4-day Baseball Camp are available online or at the Crawdads front office.

For more information or to register for either the Free Clinic or paid Baseball Camp, contact the Crawdads front office at (828) 322-3000.

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This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

Good Grades Mean Great Seats at a 2017 Keys Game

FREDERICK, MD -Students who get good grades can look forward to an exciting treat this season. The Frederick Keys are launching the Report Card Program, sponsored by Miss Utility. During the month of April, K-12 students who bring in a report card showing an “A” or a letter grade improvement will receive two FREE tickets to a Keys game.

“We are always excited to award students for their academic achievements,” said Keys Assistant General Manager for Marketing, Bridget McCabe. “This incentive will encourage youngsters of all ages to hit the books and be the best they can be in the classroom.”

Students will have 14 games to choose from, while an entire list of redeemable dates is available here. To participate, youth need to bring their report card to the Nymeo Field box office on the day of the game they wish to attend. Youngsters can then choose any seat, based on availability. There is a limit of two tickets per report card, per transaction. This offer is not valid online or over the phone.

Some of the days students can choose from are Opening Day (April 6), Kids Takeover Day (April 8), Daniel Tiger appearance (April 12), Mystery Bobblehead Giveaway (April 21), Meet the Team (April 23), Mighty Ducks Night (April 28), Star Wars Day (April 29) and the Candy Drop/Halfway to Halloween Day (April 30).

The 2017 season begins on Thursday, April 6 against the Carolina Mudcats at Nymeo Field. A full promotional schedule can be found here. Single game tickets go on sale on Friday, March 31, while ticket plans are currently available. Any fan who purchases or renews a ticket plan can choose between a Jonathan Schoop bobblehead or a Dylan Bundy gnome. For ticket information fans can call 301-815-9900 or visit frederickkeys.com.

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

Shuckers launch “Hit The Books” Reading Campaign

BILOXI, MS – The Biloxi Shuckers, in partnership with Walmart, unveiled Tuesday their plans for the “Hit the Books” reading program, which aims to teach local students the importance of literacy. The incentive-based drive will reward students who reach their reading goals with a ticket to a Shuckers home game this season.

Over the course of the next six weeks, beginning this Friday, Schooner the Seagull and other Shuckers representatives will lead pep rallies and classroom visits at 19 local schools with a message stressing the benefits of reading. At these visits, students will receive a special “Hit the Books” bookmark with a reading log on its reverse side. Once a student has read six books and their list is verified by a teacher, the bookmark can be redeemed at the MGM Park box office for a ticket to a pre-determined Shuckers home game this season.

Qualifying students will also be invited to participate in an on-field parade before their scheduled game. The parade, led by Schooner, will allow Shuckers fans to honor “Hit the Books” participants for their commitment to reading. This year just over 10,000 students will be receiving a bookmark.

“This program is a great way for young Shuckers fans to reap the rewards of hitting the books,” said Jenifer Truong, Community Relations Coordinator for the Shuckers. “Reading is already a fun thing for students to do, but the added incentive to see their hard work recognized by the Shuckers should only serve to enhance that experience.”

The “Hit the Books” tour schedule is as follows:

Friday, February 17                             North Bay Elementary School
Friday, February 17                             Coast Episcopal School
Friday, February 17                             Bayou View Elementary School
Wednesday, February 22                    Vancleave Upper Elementary School
Thursday, February 23                        Gaston Point Elementary School
Friday, March 3                                   Gorenflo Elementary School
Friday, March 3                                   Nativity BVM Elementary School
Thursday, March 9                              Anniston Elementary School
Wednesday, March 15                        Harrison Central Elementary School
Wednesday, March 15                        Singing River Academy
Friday, March 17                                 North Woolmarket Elementary/Middle School
Friday, March 17                                 Hancock North Central Elementary School
Friday, March 17                                 West Hancock Elementary School
Friday, March 24                                 St. Martin East Elementary School

ABOUT THE BILOXI SHUCKERS:
The Biloxi Shuckers are the Double-A Affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. The Shuckers play at MGM Park in Biloxi, Mississippi. For more information please visit biloxishuckers.com and follow us on Twitter @biloxishuckers and at facebook.com/biloxishuckers.com.

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

Science, tech students can earn Legends tickets

Cards will be used to record students’ progress and can be redeemed for Legends’ tickets when all four activities have been completed.

  The Lexington Legends are stepping into the fields of science and technology through a new educational program.

The Legends are working with the Instructional Technology Department of Fayette County Public Schools to provide an incentive for students in the Kentucky Department of Education’s Science and Technology Leadership Program (STLP) to participate in academic activities related to those studies.

As students complete four key activities in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM), their progress will be recorded on punch cards that will be distributed to students by STLP coordinators.   The activities are listed under the four “C’s” of STEM:

Critical thinking – Students must complete an hour of coding.

Creativity – Students must create some type of innovative project using technology.

Collaboration – Students must attend an STLP meeting or STEM Fair.

Communication – Students must teach someone else something they have learned, either one-on-one or through a class presentation.

When the completion of all four activities is recorded on their card, students may redeem the card at the Legends box office for two tickets to a home game.

“The Legends are pleased to work with Fayette County Public Schools on this project,” said Sarah Bosso, Legends’ vice president for business development.   “It’s important for students to be immersed in 21st century learning, and Fayette County Public Schools is doing a phenomenal job providing outlets for this type of experience. The Legends are more than happy to provide additional incentive for students in the form of fun at the ballpark. We look forward to having them with us for the 2017 season.”

“Fayette County Public Schools and the Office of Instructional Technology recognize the importance of STEM education and skills such as critical thinking, creativity, collaboration and communication,” said Amy Johns, Coordinator of Instructional Technology forFayette County Public Schools. “Through the Student Technology Leadership Program, we encourage schools to give students opportunities to practice those skills in a variety of ways, because we know these are key for our students to be successful in a global community.

“We are excited that our community partners, the Lexington Legends, also value and support the need for students to practice these skills and are partnering with us in a unique STEM/STLP program to reward students for their work,” she added. “We believe this opportunity will draw attention to the importance of this kind of learning at all grade levels and we deeply appreciate The Legends support of our efforts.”

STLP’s mission is to use project-based learning principles to empower student learning and achievement through the utilization and creation of technology to solve school and community needs.

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This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

Southpaw Asks Kids to “Hit the Books”

Watch Video of Reading Program

Southpaw 2.0 visited Big Island Elementary School Monday afternoon as part of the Hillcats “Hit the Books” Reading Program. The appearance marked Southpaw’s second public outing since he was introduced as the team’s new primary mascot January 9. Southpaw 2.0 made his public debut last week when he kicked off the “Hit the Books” Reading Program at Bass Elementary in Lynchburg.

Southpaw has already committed to visiting 31 schools over the next three months after traveling to 21 last year, and more schools continue to sign up on a regular basis. The bright-green, furry mascot will travel as far as 50 minutes away from Lynchburg City Stadium during his “Hit the Books” crusades.

“One of our organizational goals this offseason was to increase our community outreach in a number of areas,” said Hillcats President Chris Jones. “We’ve seen tremendous growth in our community outreach, beginning with our partnership with the Lynchburg Humane Society to kick off the year. Now we are expanding our support for local youth in the area, including a larger number of partnerships with little league teams as well as a greater number of schools participating in our reading program.”

In addition to increasing the number of participating schools, the Hillcats also worked with Lynchburg City Schools to write a new book that emphasizes the core values of Respect, Integrity, Learning and Teamwork. In “Southpaw Goes to School,” Southpaw practices each of the four values to “hit a home run.” Students learn about these four upstanding principles and how to apply them in life by following along as a Hillcats front office member reads the book and Southpaw acts it out on stage.

After learning about the importance of reading from Southpaw and the Hillcats staff, students have a chance to attend a Hillcats game by reading four books on their own. Once they do that, they receive two free General Admission tickets to one of five select Hillcats home games in April and May. The possible dates students can choose include a Fireworks Night and a fan giveaway night.

Season tickets and book ticket packages are on sale now by purchasing online or calling 434-528-1144. Individual game tickets, which include $6 General Admission, will go on sale soon. The Hillcats begin the 2017 season at home in a rematch of the 2016 Mills Cup Championship Series. Lynchburg will host the Myrtle Beach Pelicans Thursday, April 6, at 6:30 p.m. The Hillcats have made the playoffs a franchise-record five straight seasons. Schools interested in hosting Southpaw and the Hillcats staff to help students “Hit the Books” can contact Max Rettig at mrettig@lynchburg-hillcats.com.

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

Aces reach community impact records in 2016

RENO – Since the Reno Aces Baseball Club’s inception in 2009, the club has maintained a dedicated focus on making a positive impact in Reno and the surrounding Northern Nevada region. The Aces posted record-breaking charitable donations in 2016, thanks to overwhelming support from Aces fans and the community.

“In return to our great fans and wonderful community, we strive to impact Reno and Northern Nevada through a variety of programs and charitable donations,” said Reno Aces and Reno 1868 FC president Eric Edelstein. “Our vision builds on making Greater Nevada Field more than just a sporting venue, but a center for community empowerment and celebration.”

The Aces and their staff focused on four key components to the club’s overall community impact: baseball development, community events at Greater Nevada Field, community outreach and in-game fundraising and awareness.

BASEBALL DEVELOPMENT

In 2016, the Aces showed their continued support to baseball at all levels locally by hosting youth baseball camps and high school games at Greater Nevada Field.

105: In partnership with Gamer Baseball, the Aces served 105 campers over three separate youth baseball camps. The camps provided instruction on the fundamentals of baseball, along with speed, agility and strength training to make Northern Nevada youth successful baseball players in the future. Each camper received a free Reno Aces t-shirt, Aces Team Card set, two tickets to an Aces game and an Aces batting practice viewing session.

4,767: The Reno Aces partnered with multiple Northern Nevada and California little league and softball leagues to provide on-field inspiration and once-in-a-lifetime experiences through Reno Aces Youth Baseball & Softball Days. Youth baseball and softball teams attend a Reno Aces game and parade around the field pre-game. In 2016, three Youth Baseball & Softball Days were held with over 4,767 participants.

$15,000: The Aces and University of Nevada baseball team played their annual exhibition game in early April, with $15,000 of the ticket sales proceeds being donated to the Nevada Dugout Club.

$54,000: For a seventh consecutive season, the Aces invited local high schools to play regular season games at Greater Nevada Field. To participate in the program, high schools committed to purchasing 500 tickets (good for any Aces regular season home game) to sell to local community supporters, with the proceeds benefiting their respective school’s athletic program. Twelve high school baseball programs participated in 2016, and a total of 4,500 tickets were sold, equating to $54,000 in donations.

COMMUNITY EVENTS AT GREATER NEVADA FIELD

In 2016, the Aces and Greater Nevada Field hosted 56 programs and events, ranging from the Biggest Little Startup Fair to Trick-or-Suite prior to Halloween. A few major events are highlighted below:

30: Biggest Little Startup Fair, benefiting the Northern Nevada Community – Greater Nevada Field hosted the Biggest Little Startup Fair for a third consecutive year. The fair is a cooperative effort between 30 Reno startup companies, the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada, the University of Nevada and Truckee Meadows Community College. Students from across Northern Nevada were given the opportunity to meet potential employers and find out about volunteer opportunities, internships and job openings.

500+: Christmas on the Corridor, benefiting the Northern Nevada Community – For the first time, Greater Nevada Field hosted the Washoe County Sheriff’s Department annual Christmas on the Corridor event. This event provided coats, toys, child I.D. and the opportunity to meet Santa for children living along the 3rd, 4th and 5th Street corridors of Reno. Families and children that attended also received the opportunity to meet the Aces mascot, Archie, and got a voucher to skate at the Reno Ice Rink. Over 500 families attended the 20th anniversary of the corridor event.

$550 + 1,077 = 898: Trick-or-Suite, benefiting the Food Bank of Northern Nevada – The Aces and Greater Nevada Field hosted the fourth annual Trick-or-Suite to provide a safe trick-or-treat environment for children in the Northern Nevada community. Aces community partners decorated suites along the suite level and passed out candy to provide youth in Reno-Sparks a unique and fun trick-or-treating experience. Admission to Trick-or-Suite was $3 or 3 canned food items, with all proceeds and food benefiting the Food Bank of Northern Nevada. A total of $550 and 1,077 pounds of canned and boxed foods were donated, equaling 898 meals.

11,032: Slaughter House, benefiting the Washoe County School District Children in Transition Program – Slaughter House returned to Greater Nevada Field for its third year in 2016. Slaughter House is Reno’s largest and longest running haunted house, and has become the most attended and highly anticipated Halloween attraction in Northern Nevada. Slaughter House donated a portion of all proceeds to the Washoe County School District Children in Transition Program after a total of 11,032 people visited in 2016.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

The Aces’ heightened focus on community outreach paid dividends in 2016.

20′: Sierra Arts Foundation Partnership, benefiting the Northern Nevada Community – The largest community relations initiative the Aces and Greater Nevada Field advocated for in 2016 was the inclusion of local artwork at the Field. The initiative stemmed from seeing other ballparks’ inclusion of local artwork, and the fact that Reno has the most public artwork per capita than any other city in the world. Two 20-foot murals were painted at Greater Nevada Field’s home plate gate, and the Nevada Appeal Luxury Suite level featured local artwork along the hallway and in each suite. The Aces and Greater Nevada Field plan to continue this partnership with Sierra Arts into 2017 with another ballpark mural and new artwork in the suite level.

$1,355: Nevada Humane Society – In the fall of 2014, the Aces fostered Princess, a pit bull from the Nevada Humane Society, in effort to get her adopted and begin the organization’s goal to be ambassadors for not only pit bulls, but all animals in need of a home. After five months of no potential adopters, the organization officially adopted Princess and crowned her the “Princess of the Field.” This past year, the Aces started selling Princess Plush toys in the Team Shop. All proceeds from those sales benefited the Nevada Humane Society. In 2016, 231 Princess plush toys were sold and $1,355 was donated.

$151,175: In-Kind Donations/Donation Requests, benefiting various Northern Nevada and California Communities, Organizations, Schools and Non-profits – Throughout the year, the Reno Aces donated tickets, memorabilia, mascot appearances, merchandise and ice skating admissions to as many organizations in the Northern Nevada and California communities as possible. Donated items are used for members of those organizations to raise funds for their cause, provide awards and spread the love of baseball. The Aces donated to 532 organizations, resulting in a monetary value of $151,175.

IN-GAME FUNDRAISING AND AWARENESS

The Aces hit a home run with their in-game fundraising and awareness in 2016, with fundraising totals reaching $190,434.

$12,406: Jersey Auction Totals, benifiting Veterans Guest House, American Red Cross of Northern Nevada, Northern Nevada Children’s Cancer Foundation, Artown, Special Olympics and Omicron Alumni Association (NAK) – The Aces hosted six jersey theme nights in 2016, with the jersey tops being auctioned off as an in-game fundraiser. Each theme night was dedicated to one of the organizations listed above. The six theme nights are listed with their corresponding jersey auction totals in parentheses: Star Wars Night ($3,690), Artown ($2,924), D-backs Affiliation Night ($2,385), Going for the Gold Night ($2,325), Heroes Night ($555) and Los Aces Night ($527).

42,500: JAKKS Pacific Home Run for the Holidays, benefiting various Northern Nevada organizations – For the fifth consecutive year, the Reno Aces partnered with JAKKS Pacific, Inc., and Reno 1868 FC to donate toys to help less-fortunate children living in Northern Nevada. This holiday season, 3,000 toys were donated to organizations in the Reno-Sparks/Carson community assisting at risk and in need youth. Since 2011, JAKKS Pacific has donated over 42,500 toys to the Northern Nevada community.

$123,271: Non-Profit Ticket Fundraising Program presented by Greater Nevada Credit Union, benefiting Northern Nevada Non-Profits – The Non-Profit Ticket Fundraising presented by Greater Nevada Credit Union program returned for the third consecutive season, with 106 organizations participating in 2016. Available to non-profit organizations, schools, sports teams, special causes and community organizations, the Aces provided tickets and fundraising materials for groups to sell game tickets at an increased price in effort to make the organization the most money possible. Groups also receive a variety of benefits to spread awareness about their cause during their game, depending on the number of tickets sold. In 2016, non-profit organizations raised a total of $123,271 through the program.

2016 monetary donations: $36,015.00

The Aces open their 2017 season on Thursday, April 6 at 7:05 p.m. against the Fresno Grizzlies at Chukchansi Park. The home opener is set for Tuesday, April 11 at 6:35 p.m. against the Albuquerque Isotopes at Greater Nevada Field. Season memberships are on-sale now at www.renoaces.com or by calling (775) 334-4700. For up-to-date news and notes throughout the offseason, follow the club on Twitter (@aces) or like the team on Facebook.

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

NEST, Chasers Present Annual Essay Contest

The Nebraska Educational Savings Trust (NEST) and the Omaha Storm Chasers have officially begun the 15th annual “Why I Want to Go to College” essay contest, as announced by Nebraska State Treasurer Don Stenberg.

Seventh and eighth grade students from around the country may submit their entries leading up to the March 17 deadline. Essays must be 750 words or less, describing the student’s educational goals and dreams for the future. Entries are required to be typed and double-spaced on 8 1/2 by 11″ paper and must be the student’s original work. Each essay must also be accompanied with the required cover sheet, which can be found by clicking here.

Faculty and students in the College of Education at the University of Nebraska Omaha will serve as preliminary judges for the contest, with Treasurer Stenberg making the final selections. Winners will receive prizes ranging from $500 to $2,000 toward a NEST College Savings Plan. First, second and third place winners will be honored from each of Nebraska’s three congressional districts, in addition to out-of-state entries.

All winners hailing from the state of Nebraska will be notified in May and will also receive four box seat tickets to the Storm Chasers’ game on May 21 versus the Reno Aces, in addition to being recognized prior to that day’s contest for their achievements. Each winning student will also get an opportunity to meet Nebraska State Treasurer Stenberg during the visit.

Complete rules and information on the essay contest may be viewed by clicking here.

Entries must be postmarked by March 17 and sent to:

Omaha Storm Chasers

Attn: Becki Frishman

12356 Ballpark Way

Papillion, NE 68046

The Omaha Storm Chasers are the Triple-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals and play at Werner Park in Papillion, Sarpy County, Nebraska. For more information please visit www.omahastormchasers.com and follow us on Twitter @OmaStormChasers and “like” us at www.facebook.com/omahastormchasers.

The Storm Chasers return to Werner Park for Opening Night 2017 on Tuesday, April 11.

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.